Top-cementing plug



z. A. DYER 2,167,747

TOP CEMENTING PLUG Filed'OCt. l2, 1958 z ofl'lthe mud above while theplug is being`driven downwardly by the mud.

As mud pressure radially expands the packing flange lll there will be atorsion on shoulder 25 tending to twist it outwardly land downwardly,which might under some circumstances result in the cup being dislodgedfrom the body meinber. To reduce this possibility, the flange 23 may beinclined upwardly and inwardly, as previously described, so that such atorsional rotation of the shoulder 25 is communicated through collar 22to flange 23 and results in pushing the flange more tightly into therecess I5. g

The modified forms of plug 10 shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5 are allsubstantially the same in external configuration.

Each comprises a body member 1I of frustoconical design having a rubberor leather washer 12 at the lower end, and a rubber cup and packingflange 13 on the upper portion. The cup and packing flange generallyfollows as an upward and outward flaring extension of the frustoconicalpart of the body member. i

The body member is formed with a\- central upward extension 14 risingabove the upper edge of the packing flange, and having an annularrecess` 15. Thel bottom wall 82 of the cup 13 is turned upwardly as at16 being snugly stretched over the extension 14 and provided with aflange 11 which axially contracts in recess 15 and aids in retaining thecup in place.

The extension 14 is necessary in this form of plug to provide aseparation between washer 12 and the vcup and packing flange 13 when twoor 40. more plugs are used in tandem. The lower end lll of oneplug`rests on the upper end 8| of the plug below.

In Figure 3 the axially contracting flanges of the cup extendhorizontally into the body member,

while in Figure 4 they enter at an angle to assure ,a tighter grip understress.

In Figure 5 the body member 1la has an upper portion similar to that inFigure 3, and the extension 14a is formed integral with the cup andpacking flange 13a. The cup and packing-flange is necessarily elastic,but the extension 14a may be of a hard rubber or other relatively cheapcomposition to which the cup and packing flang is vulcanized. y

What I claim is:

1. In a. cementing plug for use in cementing casings in deep wells, thecombination of: a body having an annular groove near its upper end, arubber cup formed with a bottom wall and a collar enclosing the upperend of the body, and an axially contracting flange gripping the body inthe recess, and a packing flange extending upwardly and outwardlyfromthe bottom wall of the cup adapted to form a packing between the Abody and the well casing in which the plug is inserted.

2. In a cementing plug for use in cementing casings in deep wells, thecombination of: a body the tighter the packing flange is body and thewell casing in which the-.plug is y inserted, and means on the lowerportion of the body adapted to engage 'the oasing\-and cooperating withthe cup to maintain the body concentrically disposed relative to thecasing.

3. In a cementing plug for use in cementing casings in deep wells, thecombination of: a. body having an annular groove near its upper endinclined upwardly toward the axlsthereof, a rubber v cup formed with abottom wall and a collar enclosing the upper end of the body, and anaxially contracting flange gripping the body in the recess, a packingflange extending upwardly and outwardly from the bottom wall of the cupadapted to form a packing between the body and the wellv casing in whichthe plug is inserted, and means on the lower portion of the body adaptedto engage the casing and cooperating with the cup to maintain the bockconcentrically disposed relative to the casing.

4. A cementing plug for use in cementing casings in wells comprising: aguide body having an annular recess lnear its upper` end, a resilientcup on the upper end of the body having a flange adapted-to expandradially under pressure, the

cup having a gripping element axially contracting in the annular recessto aid in retaining the cup on the body.

5. A cementing plug for use in cementing casings in wells comprising: aguide body having an annular recess near its upper end, a resilient cupon the upper end of the body having a flange adapted to expand radiallyunder pressure, the cup having a gripping element axially contracting inthe annular recess to aid in retaining the cup on the body, the annularrecess and the gripping element entering the guide lbody at a'n angleinclined upwardly toward the axis thereof whereby pressure on the flangewill tend to wedge the gripping element more tightly into the recess.

6. In a cementing plug for use in cementing casings in deep wells,` thecombination of: la body having an annular recess near its upper end andan annular groove near its lower end, a rubber cup formed with a bottomwall and a collar enclosing the upper end of the body, and an axiallycontracting ange gripping the bdy in therecess, a packingl flangeextending upwardly and outwardly from the bottom wall of the cup adaptedto form a packing between the body and the well casing in which the plugis inserted, and means on the lower portion of the body adapted toengage the casing and cooperating with the cup to maintain the bodyconcentrically disposed relative to the casing, said means comprising arubber washer axially contracted in the recess near the lower end of thebody.

7. In a cementing plug for use in cementing casings in deep wells, thecombination of: a body against and covers the upper end Vof said body,'

an annular packing flange which extends upf wardly and outwardly fromsaid bottom wall; an annular attaching ilange which is formed integralwith said cup adjacent the juncture of said bottom wall and said packingflange, said attachlng flange extending downwardlyand inwardly into saidannular groove to rigidly hold said cup on said body; and means on thelower end of said body for engaging the casing in which said plug isinserted and cooperating with said cup to maintain said bodyconcentrically disposed relative to said casing.

8. In a cementing plug for use in cementing n casings in deep wells, thecombination of: a body having an annular groove about its upper end;

a rubber cup including a bottom wall which fits against and covers theupper end of said body,

, an annular packing flange which extends upon said body; means providedon a lower portion of. said body for guiding said lower` portioncentrally in a casing in which said plug is operating; and a bossprovided on said body to extend downwardly below said guide means asuicient distance that when a pair of said plugs are inserted in saidcasing in a tandem relation said boss extends into said cup and spacessaid guide means of one plug from the packing flange of the adjacentplug thereby permitting the packing flange of both plugs to functionproperly during a cementing operation.

9. In a cementing plug for use in cementing casings in deep wells, thecombination of: a body having an annular groove about its upper end; arubber cup including a bottom wall which fits against and covers theupper end of said body,

an annular packing flange which extends upwardly and outwardly from saidbottom wall; an annular attaching ange which is formed integral withsaid cup adjacent the juncture of said bottom wall and said packingflange, said attaching ilange extending downwardly and inwardly intosaid annular groove to rigidly hold said `cup on said body, a secondannular groove `being formedaround said body in a lower portion of Vsadbody; an annular washer mounted 'in' said second groove and extendingoutwardly a sufficient distance to centralize said lower portion in acasing in which a plug is operating; and a boss formed on the lower endof said body below s aid washer and extending downwardly therebelow asumcient distance so that when a plurality of said plugs are insertedtandem-fashion in a casing in a cementing operation, said boss of eachplug except the lowermost extends into the cup of the plug immediatelytherebelow a sufficient distance to space said cup downwardly from theguide washer immediately thereabove and thereby maintaining the packingflanges of Iall of said plugs free to perform their functions throughoutsaid cernenting operation.

' ZEB A. DYER.

